Machine for wrapping chocolate drops or the like.



No. 68I,28I. Patented Aug. 27, I90l.

J. WALKER.

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING CHOCOLATE DROPS OR THE LIKE.

' (Application filed June 18, 1900.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 68l,-28|. I Patented Aug. 27, MN. .1. WALKER.

MACHINE FUR WRAPPING CHOCOLATE DROPS OR THE LIKE.

(Application filed June 18, 1900.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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, Patented Aug. 27. IQOI. J. WALKER.

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING CHOCOLATE DROPS OR THE LIKE.

(Application filed June 18, 1900.)

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(No Model.)

HEEEEEI THE nmzs PEIER$ c0. movouma. wasnmoron n c No. 681,28l. Patented Aug; 27, l90l. J. WALKER.

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING CHOCOLATE DROPS 08 THE LIKE.

(Application filed June 18, 1900.)

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

m: NORRIS PETERS 00.. PNQYQLITMQ. wnswmumn. 0v 0 No. 68|,28l. Patented Aug. 27, IBM.

J. WALKER.

MACHINE FOB WRAPPING CHOCOLATE DROPS OR THE LIKE.

(Application filed June 18, 1900.) A (No Model.) 5 Sheets-$heat 5,

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UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

JOHN \VALKER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE VALTER M. LOWNEY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING CHOCOLATE DROPS OR THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 681,281, dated August 27, 1901.

' Application filed June 18, 1900. Serial No. 20.631. on mod l.)

T at whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN WALKER, of Boston, in the countyof Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for rapping Chocolate Drops or the Like, of which the following is a specification.

It is desirable for certain reasons that va rious kinds of candies, especially chocolate drops, shall be wrapped in paper, and the cost of wrapping them by hand adds materially to the cost of the product, as it takes considerable time and many hands to do the necessary wrapping.

My invention, as shown, is embodied in a machine for doing this work. In it the drop is placed upon the paper, which is drawn from a supply-roll. The necessary amount of paper is cut off and the drop and paper forced down within a creasing and twisting mechanism, so that the flat piece of paper is gathered up about the chocolate drop into the form of a bag and twisted at the neck, thus holding it well in place about its contents. The twisting mechanism consists of a gripping mechanism to hold the drop or other thing to be covered and a throat mechanism to close in and hold the covering material while the twisting takes place, each of these parts being rotated with respect to the other, as will be explained below.

The various steps are indicated in Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of the drawings, the first figure showing the drop laid flat upon the pa per and the other figures showing the package in various conditions of wrapping and the instrumentalities which operate upon it in proper relation thereto, Fig. 12 showing the package itself after it had out of the machine.

My invention will be understood by reference to the drawings, in which- Fig. l is a plan of a machine embodying my invention, Fig. 2 being a side elevation; Fig. 3, a vertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the mechanism for holding the drop during the twisting operation, being taken on line 4 at of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3, showing the twisting-fingers. Fig. 6 is asec been dropped tional detail showing the twistingfingers,

this view being slightly enlarged, Fig. 7 being a vertical section on line 7 7 of Fig. 6 and showing especially the feeding-cam, by means of which the drop is pulled down from above. Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11 show the various steps in the operation, Fig. 12 showing the condition and position of the package when it is finished and has passed down through the machine. Fig. 13 shows a side detail of one of the nippers 0r clips attached to the paperfeed, andFig. 14 shows a portion of the camshaft O and the cams thereon. f; The other figures show details to be referred to below.

A is a base on which are mounted two uprights B B, carrying at their upper ends bearings B B for the main or cam shaft 0. On one end of this shaft 0 is a pulley O, by means of which power is applied to the shaft 0 from any suitable source. Upon the base A is also mounted a casting D, carrying two bosses D, in each of which is supported an upright E. On top of these uprights E is mounted aframe F, shapedin plan as shown in Fig. l and in side elevation as shown in Fig. 2. The rear portion of this frame consists of two arms f, which serve as bearings for a rock-shaft f, on which are mounted levers G H. The front end of the lever G is forked, as shown at G to form a sliding bearing for the pin, by means of which the upper end of the plun-. ger-rod J is connected thereto. The rod J carries at its lower end the plunger j. The plunger-rod J passes down through the bearingg, mounted onthe front end of the frame F, and into and through the sleeve K,which forms the plunger-rod for the plaiting-plunger it. A bearing F located in line with the bearing g and mounted on the end of an arm' F, which hangs from the frame F, serves as a guide for the sleeve K and incidentally for the plunger-rod J, which passes through the sleeve K.

The rear end of each lever G His connected to connecting-rod G H. Each connectingrod carries a cam-roll G I-I ,which rides upon its cam G H mountedon the shaft O. Each connecting-rod G H has a slot at its lower end, through which the shaft 0 passes, this being a convenient means of keeping the con- I00 necting-rod in proper relation to the cam without interfering with their vertical moveshoulder referred to.

ment. Springs may also be provided, if thought necessary, to keep the cam-rolls and cams in contact. Such springs being frequently used for this purpose it is not deemed necessary to show them in the drawings.

It will be noted from the shape of the cams G H that the two plunger-rods J K are given throws of different lengths, the plungerj oarrying the drop down through the fingers which manipulate the paper and depositing it in the gripping-fingers and the plaitingplunger acting upon the edge of the paper to give it its preliminary crease or fold. It is evidentthat these movements may be given by other means than those here shown.

Upon the casting D is supported a table L and also two uprights L L, each carryingat its upper end two friction'rolls Z, upon which is laid the shaft L about which is the paperroll. Between the uprights L L there is also aguide-rod Z the purpose of which is to guide the course of the paper Z from the roll on the shaft L down to the table L, so that it will lie fiat upon the table.

The paper is drawn off from the roll by means of a reciprocating drawing-frame M, this frame being mounted on the horizontal ways m n and being given a reciprocating movement by means of a crank-arm m and connecting-rod m The crank-arm m is mounted upon a vertical shaft m This is a compact and simple method of giving the necessary reciprocation to the drawing-frame M. This drawing-frame has projecting from its. forward end two arms 011 each of which is beveled downward to a point at its frontend. Each arm m has a leaf-spring m attached to its upper side, which is also bent downward at its end, so as to engage with the point of its arm on and form aclip to engage the paper. Each clip is also provided with a releasing angle-lever fulcrumed at m, one end 071 of which engages the spring m and theotherportion of which is in the form of a vertical cross-bar on), which is adapted to engage with stops m and m, one at each end 'of its stroke, by means of which the clip is opened to grip or release the paper, as will be explained below. A shoulder is provided on the arm m to engage the cross-bar m so that it will normally stand in the position shown, the part m being held down by the spring m thus holding the" cross-bar against the The operation of this drawing-frame is as follows: It moves forward from the position shown in Fig. 3 to a position just in front of the front edge of the table L, where the springs m are separated from the arms m by the engagement of the upper ends of each cross-bar m with its stop m As the frame moves backward, the cross-bars being disengaged from the stop, each spring m shuts against its arm "m and seizes the paper, so that the frame draws the paper off the roll and extends it in a horizontal plane underneath the plungers j 70. Then the frame has reached the position shown in Fig. 3, the lower portion of each cross-bar m strikes its stop m, so that the clip is opened and releases the paper, leaving it free to be acted upon by the plungers.

In order to insure the feeding of the paper between the clips, the following mechanism is preferably provided to lift the edge of the paperinto the path of the clips: A bracket M is mounted on the casting D between the table L and the drawing-frame M. On the edge of this bracket nearest the table L is hinged a leaf M, which normally rests on the bracket Mfland from this leaf projects upward a pin M which lies in the path of an arm M projecting from the drawing-frame M. The front end of this arm M projects somewhat in front of the clips, and as the frame M moves forward the arm M will strike the pin M and pushing it back will lift the front edge of the leaf M about its hinge, and thus lift the edge of the paper which lies on the leaf into the path of the clips, so that they can seize it, as described. When the arm M releases the pin M the leaf M falls of its own weight.

N is a knife by means of which a square of paper is cut from the strip which has been drawn across the machine in the manner described. This knife N is attached to an arm n, which projects downward from the way a, on which the frame M slides, this way n being, in fact, a rock-shaft mounted in suitable hearings in its supports and being provided with a second arm or, to which is attached a connecting-rod 72 This rod 92 is slotted at its farther end, so that the shaft C passes through it, and it carries a cam-roll n to engage with the cam n on the shaft 0, its construction beingin all respects like that of the connecting-rods G H, and it gives a rocking motion to the shaft n. This knife N 011 its downward stroke cuts the paper, which rests on two pieces M M", attached to the edge of the bracket M farthest from the table L by means of screws, one of which is shown at M in Fig. 3. A narrow strip M slightly thicker than the thickness of the knife-blade N, sep= arates these pieces M M to allow the knifeblade to pass between them in its downward movement. This operation of the knife N is so timed that it will out off the paper as soon as it has been drawn across the machine by the drawing-frame and then retire.

The preferred form of gripping mechanism will now be described. Upon the base A there is mounted a cylindrical bearing P, on which slides vertically and rotates the cap Q, which has gear-teeth Q about its periphery. To the upper side of this cap Q is attached a circular frame q, having a central sleeve q of considerable thickness, so as to form bearings for the vertical shafts (1 which pass through vertical hearings in the sleeve q. Upon the upper end of each vertical shaft is a gripping-fingerq preferably provided with a rubber sleeve Three of these vertical shafts are provided at their lower ends with horizontal arms g extending radially from the lower end of each shaft and each carrying a friction-roll The fourth shaft carries a similar horizontal arm g which also has a friction-roll g mounted thereon; but it also has an angular extension 1 which tapers at its end and wipes against a camsurface q, attached to the under side of the flange R of the vertically-moving sleeve R. g is a ring having therein a number of radial slots g each slot being adapted to receive one of the friction-rolls g Springs are provided, one end of each of which is attached to one of the arms g the other end of each spring being attached to the sleeve q, the purpose of these springs being to hold the arms and the gripping-fingers (1 normally in a closed position. The ring q serves to equalize the movement of the arms (1 and fingers q, so that each finger shall move in the same manner as all the others. The fingers are intended to grip the portion of the package containing the chocolate drop during the twisting operation, the rubber sleeve (1 serving to protect the candy from being gripped too harshly. The cap Q, frame q, and the parts mounted thereon are rotated by means of the gear Q, which engages with the gear 0-, mounted on the vertical shaft 0, which shaft also carries a bevel-gear O engaging with corresponding bevel-gear 0 mounted on a shaft 0, supported in a bracket D attached to the casting D. Both ends of the shaft 0 are mounted .in the casting D. This shaft 0 has at its outer end a pulley O to which power is transmitted from the shaft C by means of the belt O running on a pulley on said shaft 0. As shown in the drawings, the belt O has a series of projections from its inner surface arranged at equal distances apart, which are adapted to fitinto corresponding recesses on the peripheries of the pulleys over which it runs. By this means the shaft 0 and the shaft 0' are caused to turn in unison. It is evident,

of course, that two sprockets with a sprocketchain could be substituted for the belt and pulleys shown. The bracket D also carries a bearing for the upper end of the shaft m its lower end being mounted in the casting D. A gear 0 on this shaft engages the gear 0, and hence receives power. The sleeve q is grooved at and a number of screws q pass through the sleeve B into the groove so that the cap Q shall move vertically with the sleeve R and shall be free to rotate about it.

The throat mechanism shown will now be described. The sleeve R and its flange R are preferably in one piece, as shown, and are connected to the cylindrical plaiting-frame S, in which it moves vertically and to which it is connected by springs r. On the exterior of the sleeve R are two bosses R in which are pivoted the throat fingers 0, which pass through slots "1' in the sleeveR and have a free movement in either direction. These fingers are somewhat angular in shape and standards.

are placed one slightly over the other, so they will shear by each other when they are closed together. The shank of each finger carries a friction-roll r to engage with the cam-surfaces r on the inner side of the ring-frame B 011 the outside of this ring-frame R are gear-teeth R", which engage with teeth on the gear 0 on the shaft 0. g

S is the plaiting-frame, which is attached to the casting D. It has a horizontal groove 3, in which fit guide-pieces R attached to the ring-frame R these parts being so constructed that the ring-frame R may be rotated about the plaiting-frame S, the guidepieces R serving to hold up the ring-frame R and guide it in its rotation. The ringframe R also has cam-surfaces R, which as the frame rotates engage with the cam-rolls R on the exterior of the sleeve R and force the sleeves R and q and the parts connected with them downward against the strength of the springs r.

The plaiting-frame S is cylindrical in shape,"

the cylinder having a flange s, by means of which the frame is attached to the casting D. From the upper edge of the cylinder project standards 5 to each of which is pivoted a folding-finger 3 Each finger is curved, its longer end extending downward, so that its tip meets the tip of the adjacent fingers, all

of these fingers practically touching in the center of the cylindrical portion of the frame S. The short or rear end of each finger is connected by a spring 5 with the flange s, so that the fingers are normally held in contact with each other at their tips.

To start the creases in the paper, the plunger 7c is provided with a series of wires the plunger being so arranged with relation to the folding-fingers s that one of these wires lies between each pair of fingers and their T is an indicator mounted on one end of the way m. It is bent, as shown in Fig. 1, to indicate the place where the chocolate drop, which may be properly termed a core, is to be located upon the paper.

The operation of the various parts will now be described. The core being placed upon the paper in the angle of the finger T, as indicated at T in Fig. 1, the'drawing-frame moves across the machine, and its arm M striking the upright pin M just previous to the instant when the frame reaches its extreme left-hand position the leaf M is caused to lift the edge of the paper, so as to place it within reach of the clips. As the drawingframe continues its movement the upper end of each cross-bar m strikes its stop m thus causing the lever m to lift the spring m thus opening the clip to receive the edge of the paper. The drawing-frame then starts back, and the instant the cross-barsm become disengaged from the stops m the clips close, grip the paper, and draw it off from the paperroll, carrying the drop with it. When the drawing-frame has reached the right-hand ex- IIO tremity of its movement,the lower end of each cross-bar strikes its stop an and opens, thus freeing the paper, and the kuife'blade N makes its downward movement to cut the square of paper from the strip.- The core is thus brought directly over the axis of the cylindrical portion of the frame S on the paper with which it is to be covered and under the plungers. (See Fig. 8.) At this instant the two plungers descend, the plunger 3' forming the upper portion of the cavity in the plunger 7t. The plunger 70, by means of its plaiting-fingers, which pass down between the folding-fingers on top of the cylinder, begins the creasing operation of the paper; but the motion of the plunger is only sufficient to begin this plaiting operation. (See Fig. 9.) The plunger j, however, continues to push the core and paper down through the folding-fingers, as indicated in Fig. 10, until the core itself comes between the gripping-fingers g, Fig. 11, which at this instant are opened by means of the engagement of the piece g with the cam (1 The grippingfingers (1 then close upon the core, and the plungerj is withdrawn, the throat-fingers a in the meantime coming together and gathering up the paper about the top of the drop. The cap Q and the parts connected to it, including the sleeve q, are rotated continuously, while the sleeve R is stationary, so that the paper which has been drawn up about the core is held by the throat-fingers r while the core is being rotated by the rotation of the cap. At the same time it is being drawn down by the vertical movement of the sleeve B, so that the edge of the paper is disengaged from the fingers s As shown, the speed of rotation of the ring-frame R which carries the cams r and R is only half as great as the speed of the cap Q and the parts attached to it. This is desirable, so that a separate cam r may be used for each throat-finger r and a separate cam R for each side of the ring-frame R to equalize the downward thrust upon the parts R, &c. When the part g engages again with the cam g it opens the gripping-fingers and releases the package, at which time the parts are in their lowest position and begin to rise, the gripping-fingers being kept open to receive the next drop and its wrapper. It is evident that the movements herein described may be given to the various parts in other ways than those shown and that the movements of the parts with relation to each other may be interchanged without departing from the spirit of the invention. The peculiarity of this machine consists in a creasing mechanism, by means of which the folding or plaiting of the paper is started, and a holding and twisting mechanism, by means of which the paper and its contents are twisted with relation to each other. These various parts have also a separating action, whereby during the twisting operation the paper is disengaged from the folding mechanism and left free, so that it may be released from the machine when the twisting operation is finished. More over, the drawing and cutting of the paper from the sheet is a convenience; but it is evident that the paper may be cut into sheets and each sheet fed independently, if thought best. It is evident, also, that this invention may be used for other purposes than that described where a twisting movement is to be given in covering a core.

What I claim as my invention is-= 1. In a covering-machine, a gripping mechanism adapted to be opened and closed and means for opening and closing it, a throat mechanism and means for opening and closing it and means for rotating one of said mechanisms with respect to the other, in combination with mechanism for positively delivering the covering material for the core to said gripping and throat mechanisms and mechanism for starting the folding operation, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a covering machine a rotary gripping mechanism and means whereby it is opened and closed, and a stationary throat mechanism and means whereby it is opened and closed, and a feeding mechanism adapted'to feed the core or other article to be covered positively to said gripping and throat mechanisms and mechanism for starting the folding operation, as and for the purposes described.

3. In a machine for covering a core withpaper or the like, means of the kind described for creasing the paper, means for gripping the core and paper, and a throatmechanism for closing the paper about the core, said throat mechanism and said gripping mechanism being rotated the one with respect to the other and both having a movement substantially in line with their axes, as set forth.

4;. In a machine for covering a core with paper or the like, mechanism for gripping the core and paper and a throat mechanism for closing the paper about the core, said throat mechanism and said gripping mechanism being rotated the one with respect to the other and a creasing mechanism and means substantially as described for separating said throat and gripping mechanisms and said creasing mechanism as set forth.

5. In a machine for covering a core with paper or the like, means for gripping the core and paper and a throat mechanism for closing the paper about the core, said throat mechanism and said gripping mechanism being rotated one with respect to the other and both having a movement substantially in line with their axes, in combination with a plaiting and creasing mechanism and a plunger located axially of said plaiting and creasing mechanism and said throat and gripping mechanism, whereby the core is fed down through the axis of said mechanisms, as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In combination with a covering mechanism of the kind described, a paper-roll, a paper and core feed consisting of a drawing IIO frame adapted to reciprocate above said covering mechanism to grasp and draw a strip of paper over said covering mechanism, an indicator to locate the position of the core on said sheet before it has been drawn over said covering mechanism, in combination with a knife adapted to cut a sheet of paper from said strip.

7. In combination with a covering mechanism and an indicator to locate the position to place the core, a paper-sheet feed consisting of a drawing-frame adapted to reciprocate across said covering mechanism to grasp and withdraw said paper sheet over said covering mechanism, in combination with a hinged paper-lifter located to feed the edge of the paper to said drawing-frame and adapted to engage said drawing-frame and lift the edge of the paper within the path of said drawingframe and then to retire and leave a smooth surface over which the sheet and its core are carried, as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In combination with a covering mechanism a paper-roll and a reciprocating drawingframe to feed paper to said covering mechanism, a paper-lifter adapted to engage with and lift the edge of the paper into the path of said drawing-frame, said paper-lifter carryinga part adapted to engage with said drawing-frame when approaching its forward position and be operated thereby, and a knife located in front of the edge of said paperlifter adapted to out the paper on a line with the edge ofsaid paper-lifter,and means whereby said knife is operated, as and for the purposes set forth.

9. In combination with a covering mechanism of the kind described and means for feeding the paper thereto, two concentric plungers, the outer plunger being provided with means for plaiting said paper, the inner plunger being adapted to drive the core with its paper cover through the covering mechanism, as and for the purposes set forth.

10. In a core-covering machine a covering mechanism having a series of standards projecting upwardly therefrom each standard carryinga creasing-finger,a paper-feed adapted to feed a strip of paper carrying a core over said standards, and a plunger adapted to carry said core and said paper through said covering mechanism, said plunger being provided with a series of wire fingers each located to pass down between one pair of said standards, as and for the purposes set forth.

11. In a covering-machine in combination with means for giving to the paper a preliminary crease and means for feeding the core to be covered and the paper thereto, a gripping mechanism and a throat mechanism consisting of a pair of throat-fingers angular in shape and supported at one end to oscillate toward and from each other and located one slightly above the other as described, gripping-fingers and means whereby said gripping-fingers and said throat-fingers are rotated the one with respect to the other, and said gripping and throat mechanism and said preliminary-creasing mechanism are caused to reciprocate one with respect to the other.

12. In a covering-machine in combination with gripping mechanism and means for creasing the paper and means for feeding the core to be covered and the paper thereto, a throat mechanism consisting of a pair of throat-fin gers angular in shape and each pivotally supported near one end and adapted to gather together the paper about said core and hold it, and means whereby said gripping mechanism and said throat mechanism are rotated with respect to each other, and both are given a movement to draw said paper from said creasing means, as set forth.

13. In a machine for covering a core, a gripping mechanism and means for feeding said core and a sheet of paper thereto, a throat mechanism consisting of a pair of throat-fingers mounted in a vertically-moving sleeve above said gripping mechanism, mechanism whereby said gripping mechanism and said throat mechanism are rotated one with respect to the other, in combination with a cam whereby said sleeve is given a vertical movement, as and for the purposes set forth.

14. In a coverin g-machine a sleeve, a series of shafts located therein, each shaft carrying a gripping-finger at its upper end and a horizontally-extending arm at its lower end, one of said arms having an extension, and said arms being suitably connected, whereby the movement of one arm will cause a corresponding movement of each of the others, in combination with a cam adapted to engage said extension of one of said arms and operate all of said gripping-fingers toward and from each other, and means whereby said cam and said sleeve are rotated one with respect to the other, as and for the purposes set forth.

15. In a paper-feeding mechanism in com bination with a paper-roll, a reciprocating drawing-frame having one or more arms each. provided with a spring-clip normally closed and an angle-lever, one end of which is adapted to engage said spring-clip, its other por tion being in the form of a vertical cross-bar, two stops, one located near each end of the stroke of the drawing-frame and each adapt ed when in contact with said cross-bar to open said clip against the force of its spring. and immediately release it when said contact is broken, whereby each clip is normally closed except during its instant of engage ment with said stop, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name this lith day of June, 1900.

JOHN WALKER.

'Witnesses:

M. E. FLAHERTY, F. F. RAYMOND, 2d. 

